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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09141993 - 1.173 f /a / 73 Committee for Water Policy Consensus RECEIVED August 26, 1993 AUG 3 11993 The Hon. Tom Torlakson, Chair CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Board of Supervisors C < CONTRA COSTA CO. Contra Costa County IV and Chair, Water Committee 1693 300 E. Leland Road, Suite 100 Pittsburg, CA 94565 Dear Tom: As the Board of Supervisors considers the FY 1993/94 county budget, we respectfully request that you include a contribution/participation fee for the Committee for Water Policy Consensus (CWPC) in the county's Water Agency budget. Contra Costa County contributed$32,000 to the CWPC from its Water Agency's FY 1992/93 budget. We hope we can count on the same level of support from the FY 1993/94 budget. Anticipating that this will be possible, I have taken the liberty of enclosing an invoice in hopes that the approval and check-cutting process can be expedited. We believe local government involvement has been key to the CWPC's success. We encourage Contra Costa County's continued participation and hope you will provide continued financial support as well. For your information,we have enclosed a one-page list of"Programs and Activities That Benefit Counties"and a one-page statement entitled"What Your Support of the Committee for Water Policy Consensus Provides." Protecting the economic and environmental health and viability of the Bay-Delta Estuary by securing adequate and enforceable water quality protections is the CWPC's top priority. Just four of several CWPC activities this year that have the potential to improve Bay-Delta protections -- and help us meet our future water needs -- are the following: 1. Convening and participating in a briefing and dialogue process with major water suppliers/districts in the Bay-Delta region to identify the region's future water needs (including drought needs), and to identify all potential options for meeting those needs (including exploring the feasibility of voluntary, compensated water transfers). 2. Augmenting water supplies -- and reducing the demand on the Delta -- through increased use of reclaimed water. To assist in expanding the opportunities for reuse of water, the CWPC has developed a set of water reuse policy guidelines (for counties and cities) and two water reuse model ordinances (one for non-water purveying counties and cities and one for counties and cities that purvey water). The final versions of these three vital tools for local government will be distributed soon and will be reviewed at a one-day, CWPC-organized workshop on November 19. These documents will save countless hours of time by county decision makers and staff. 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330 • Concord, California 94520 RaydM.W FAX (510) 682-6680 • PHONE (510) 682-6633 Rayclable County Contribution August 26, 1993 Page 2 3. Advancing the agricultural water conservation effort through active participation in continuing negotiations of a statewide agricultural conservation Memorandum of Understanding (comparable to the path-breaking statewide urban conservation MOU the CWPC was instrumental in achieving). Additionally, the CWPC helped produce a recently-completed "On- Farm Practices" paper, as a companion document to the policy statement and extensive list of Efficient Water Management Practices for agricultural water suppliers that was approved last year after a three-year consensus process of diverse interests from throughout California. The key element of the policy document is a commitment by agricultural water suppliers to a detailed water conservation planning and management process. 4. Continuing participation in the State Water Resources Control Board's multi-year Bay-Delta water quality standards/water rights hearing process (which started in July 1987). Additionally,we provide a number of special briefings for Bay Area regional leaders,including those in the business community. These briefings focus on Bay-Delta protections and meeting future water needs with win-win solutions. We have budgeted a modest $185,500 to implement the CWPC's ambitious work program. We are very proud of the work we have accomplished to date and look forward to additional achievements. We are honored to have the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as part of our team and value your contributions to the CWPC's effectiveness as a respected statewide player in the water arena. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at (510) 682-6633. Thank you again for your previous support. We appreciate your consideration of a renewed contribution/participation fee to help us implement our current work on behalf of this region's and the state's interests. Sincerely, Lori �ggsl J Executive Director Enclosures (3) cc: Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak Roberta Goulart Committee for Water Policy Consensus August 26, 1993 Board of Supervisors County of Contra Costa 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 INVOICE FY 1993/94 contribution/participation fee for the County of Contra Costa in the Committee for Water Policy Consensus, as approved in the Water Agency budget. Total due: 32 000 Thank you. cc: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Roberta Goulart 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330 Concord, California 94520 Re ycIM..d FAX (510) 682-6680 • PHONE (510) 682-6633 RayclNle Committee for Water PolicyConsensus PROGRAMS AND ACIZVIT IES THAT BENEFIT COUNTIES Included among the CWPC's programs and activities that directly benefit the counties in the San Francisco Bay-Delta area are the following: • Advocating increased use of reclaimed water in the region. Developed two water reuse model ordinances (one for non-water purveying counties,one for water purveying counties), and water reuse policy guidelines that counties can use, thereby saving many hours of county staff time. • Promoting a city-county water conservation campaign, co-sponsored by ABAG,which urges cities and counties to adopt water-efficient landscape ordinances for new development. For counties that did not adopt their own landscape ordinance by January 1, 1993, the State of California's model ordinance currently is in effect for them. Counties in this situation can still develop their own ordinance, particularly if they deem that a locally-developed ordinance is more appropriate to their jurisdiction than the State's. The CWPC's sample guidelines provide a simpler and more water-conserving approach than the State's model ordinance. Sample guidelines, developed with the assistance of the landscaping industry, and other helpful materials are available, saving countless hours of county staff time. • Leading effort to secure legislative protection for beneficial uses of the Bay-Delta Estuary. • Working with the Southern California Water Committee in a joint project (State Water Conservation Coalition) focused on conservation and efficient use of water -- urban and agricultural. This cooperative project already has resulted in a landmark agreement by which urban water districts statewide are voluntarily committing to far-reaching,mandatory water conservation measures. This urban conservation Memorandum of Understanding promises to be one of the most important water policy advances in California history. The Coalition also has produced a comprehensive report and action plan for water reclamation and reuse. Work has been completed on an aggressive program of agricultural water conservation and on voluntary water transfers and exchanges. • Sponsoring a Bay-Delta Hearings Coordination & Public Education Project, which aims to secure favorable and improved water quality standards from the State Water Resources Control Board to protect the Bay and Delta and to ensure public education and participation in this lengthy and complex hearing process. • Leading advocacy for adoption of water banking in statewide consensus discussions. Water banking in offstream or underground storage as one of the keys to securing water to meet future needs in a manner that also provides improved protections for the Bay-Delta Estuary. Supporting Los Banos Grandes Reservoir and Los Vaqueros Reservoir. • Served as the catalyst and architect for the statewide consensus developed in support of a Coordinated Operation Agreement between the federal and state water projects. The COA commits the federal government to meeting state-determined water quality standards and provides for improved operations management of these two major exporters of Delta water. • Spearheaded the coalition effort that successfully secured legislation for a comprehensive Delta levee rehabilitation and maintenance program. 1993 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330 • Concord, California 94520 Recyciedand FAX (510) 682-6680 • PHONE (510) 682-6633 Recyclable Committee for Water Policy Consensus WHAT YOUR SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR WATER POLICY CONSENSUS PROVIDES Generally' Participation in a diverse, broad-based group that is committed to: • Helping to resolve California's water problems in a fair, balanced and comprehensive manner through a process of consensus-building and working to build support for solutions that are environmentally safe and economically sound. • Assuring that the environmental integrity and protection of all regions in California not be compromised in the search for solutions to the state's water problems. • Developing a strong, unified base of regional support for adequate and assured protections for the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Specifically: • Liaison and meetings with legislators, administration representatives, and committee consultants to discuss assessment of and support for CWPC policies. • Identification of opportunities for implementation of CWPC's adopted policies in legislation and regulation (e.g., State Water Resources Control Board's Bay-Delta water quality standards, Coordinated Operation Agreement between federal and state water projects). • Meetings and exchanges with other groups and regions in order to promote education on CWPC policies and to help build statewide consensus. • Ad hoc task forces that further analyze issues and policies of interest to the CWPC and that develop recommendations to the full CWPC regarding proposed new policies or regarding opportunities for implementation of adopted CWPC policies. • Public education programs: Bay-Delta WIN-WIN* Program (*Water Inflow Needed -Water Improvements Now); speaker's bureau; public awareness and press programs; roundtable discussions; public forums; conferences. • Legislative monitoring:testify at various committee hearings;monitor and report on selected water legislation. NOTE TO COUNTY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS: Each Board of Supervisors within the CWPC's Bay-Delta region is a member of the Executive Committee. As such, each county has a direct say in the CWPC budget and annual work plan. Additionally, the Executive Committee provides an ongoing assessment of the financial and political viability of the CWPC's work program. The budget and work program are developed by the Executive Committee and approved by the full CWPC. 1993 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330 • Concord, California 94520 RmycIcd and FAX (510) 682-6680 • PHONE (510) 682-6633 Recyclable